Detachable presser for spring-beard needles.



APPLICATION FILED AU-G.l4' i916.

Patented Feb. 5, 19181,' 2 SHEETS-SHEETI F. WlLcoI/IB.- r DETACHABL PRESSER'FOR SPRING-IBEARD NEEDLES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I4| I9l6- Patented Feb. 5, 1918.

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' 2 SHEETS-SHEEIZ,

ilIiI d, l :I II Il` Il II 'III H C l f/ j l 1 3/ I I II j I lil II III?? --A\" 'l K I I I I III /mI I III t w iva@ I l a@ I 1g I I III y n atras arianne onrein FRANK WILCOMIB, NORRISTDWN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSGNOB, T WILDMAN MFGl- C0., OF NORRISTOWN, PENNSYLVNII., A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

DETQHABLE PRESSER FOR SPRlll'G-'BIEARD NEEDLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented lleb. 5, il'lild.

Application lcd .august la, 1918. Serial No. lld.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK WILCOMB, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Norristown, Pa., have invented certain new and useful improvements in Detachable Pressers for Spring-Beard Needles, of which the following is a specification.

The invention is applicable to spring beard needles of various types, whether di* rect fed or sinker fed on machines in which the needles and cooperating elements are operated independently or machines having needles fixed in a bar and operated simul taneously or amachine in which the needles yare fixed in a suitable support and a presser is employed movable alongI the needle row. The preferred form of machine .is the circu-v lar type yhaving independently operated needles and the following description is pre sented in connection with a machine of that t pe. i

y)The invention is applicable to machines havin-g sliding elements, such as web hold- ,er or sinkers coperatinnf withthe needles or to machines in which the elements, one or more, are pivotally mounted.

'lhe invention consists in the features and combination and arrangement of arts here- Qinafter described and particulary pointed out in the claims. -v

ln the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a vertical sectional part of a needle cylinder with my improved .presser ring in place, the machine shown be ing one in which the yarn is fed direct to the needles without the employment of sinlrers. Fig. 2 shows in section the ring or bed for the presser units detached.

Fig. tl is a detached View of one ofthe so presser units. v

A Pfg. Il is a view ofthe pressing unit with a machine having web holders and sinlrers. is a vien1 of the beds of Fig.. l for the needles, sinhers and web holders and with the web ring detached.

. ti is a plan viewbf' the web holder hed with come of the presser units inserted therein and some of the'eeats'for these `pressers beine empty.

Figs?, 8 and 9 are. views of the pressing unit. z

'Referring to'ligs. 1,2 and d, 1 indicates a needle cylinder having the usual guiding view of a I v 1 receive the needle beards, this grooved convarious ways, 1n the particular construction shown the presser ring or bed is slotted vertically at 5 on its outer face and it may be slotted across its upper face. The presser units are preferably of the form shown in the detached view, Fig- 3, and consistvof bits or pieces 5 of generally inverted Ushape having depending inner and outer prongs.

These units are adapted to t astride of the ring or bed 4 with the outer pron inserted in one of the vertical slots 5 o ring or bed, .While the inner prong fits against the inner surface of the ring and the lower edge of the main body ofthe bit or piece between the prongs fits on the upper surface ofthe ring. The presser unit may beheld to thc ring in various Ways, for instance, by friction or by a Wire surrounding the series. I have shown however, spring bands 'T fitting in notches in the presser units and in notches or grooves in the outer sur' face of the walls between the vertical slots 1 of the presser holding ring. The pressers have a rounded upper inner corner at 8 and their inner faces are grooved vertically to struction serving, to aline up any beards that may have become displaced laterally and cause them to perform their proper-functions. I 'The presser holding ring may be held in various ways but in Fig. l lt have shown it simply as resting on the shoulder 3, whereon it is heldby the upper part of the web holder which o'verlies and rests upon the presser ring. The web holder has an inner prong forming the fabric supporting surface and these inner prongs slide in shallow slots formed in the web ring. The web holders have also a lower prong slidable in a groove 9 formed in the outer surface of the web ring, the stems of the web holders sliding on a suitable bed 9x and their butts l0 being engaged by a suitable cam held by a cap plate ll. t

rl`he construction described by which the web holders are held in theiry proper plane the I by the inner prong and the outer stern serves also as a means for holding the presser ring to its scat, because as above stated, the upper main portion of the web holder overlies and works upon the upper surface'of the presser ring. The inner rrooved face of the presser unit may bearranged at an inclination to the normal line of movement of the needle as in Figs. 1 and si in order that as the needle draws down it will move into a gradually contracting space, the needle during the pressing action being deflected outwardly from its normal plane, so that asit reti-acts its beard will be forced against the presser unit and will thereby be closed to pass through the old loop and by reason of the inclined relation of the presser surfaces to the normal plane of the needle beard the beard will be pressed during this retracting stroke to an extent which will prevent any tendency for the beard to burst the loop through which it is passing, this pressing action being maintained in proper degree because of the inclined relation mentioned, even after the needle is free from the inside presser device which deliects it from its normal plane. This inside presser device a may be in the form of a wheel or other form of device to act against the backs of the needles and defiect them outwardly. The inclined relation of the presser surface to the normal plane of movement of the needle also aifords a comparatively large space at the top of the needle cylinder or web ring and between the same and the presser device or unit to receive the nose of the needle WithoutA crimping the same. The inclined relation between the surface of the presser and the normal plane of movement of the needle may be sei cured either by tapering the needle cylinder and using a presser ring or av series of presser elements of substantially cylindrical form or arrangement or by using a needle cylinder of cylindrical form throughout and tapering downwardly the series of presser bits. Any one of the presser bits can be quickly removed for repair and replacement by simply drawing it upwardly from its seat, The presser units may be formed of hardened material, such as steel, thas securing great durability and adapting the construction to fine gage ma-y chines, and the presser bits not only perform the function of pressing the needle beards but they perform the function of guiding the web holders, answering the purpose of the usual guiding walls which are left up standing by the customary slotting operation, this slotting operation of course in a fine gage machine leaves thin upstanding walls and these being of soft material are liable to become bent or displaced, Whereas with my present construction inA which the hardened steel bits or pieces are employed a very thin piece suited for the finest gages of the presser ring made up of [ment of the outer machines will afford ample stiffness against. lateral displacement.

Referring to Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 I show in Fig. et an arrangement in which web holders and sinkers are employed and in Fig. 5 the beds for these parts are illustrated.

The sinkers and web holders may assume various forms and may be operated in various ways but for convenience of illustration l have shown an interlocking form of sinker and web holder, which is made the subject matter of another application, together with certain other features disclosed in these {igures, Nd 114,801, August 11, 1916.

The web holders in this instance, are supportedby a bed 5 which has a machined or turned upper surface upon which the web holders move, said web holders being guided by the presser bits which besides per; forming their beard pressing functions also serve as the guiding Jwalls for the web holders and sinkeis. llhese presser bits like those first described have inner and outer prongs and they are seated by the. outer prong fitting in the outer vertical slot of the web holder bed, the main body of the bit or presser piece fitting down in a radial slot 12 formed in the top' of the bed., whereas the inner prong fits against the inner face of the bed. '1`liis bed also furnishes the support for the sinkers and while sliding sinkers may be employed instead of pivoted sinkers l show ,for convenience the pivoted arrangement,

the pivots ot' the sinkers resting 1n grooves or seats 13 formed in the upper edges of the walls ll left by slotting the' bed to receive the shanks of the sinkcrs. The sinkers are also guided by their substantially horizontal arms 15 working in slots of a cage 1G and the cam' path is indicated at 17. 'l he combined web holder, presser bit, and sinker bed rests upon a shoulder 18 of the cylinder and a clamp fscrew 19 pressing a soft metal plug :10 against the walls of the cylinder wall holds the cage and the combined web holder and sinker bc'd'in place.

It willbc understood that the features described in connection with the lirst form of theinvention relating to the web holders serving to prevent circumferential displaceme August 14, 1916, No. 114,804, Renewal presser ring or bar may lbe employed in connection with the form ments serving as pressers Latisana -lihnnber 180,018, and certain features which are not claimed herein 'are claimed in. said other application.

l. ln a spring beard needle knitting machine, needle beard pressing means coinprising means to act on the backs of the needle bears are pressed when so detlected worlring plane, andmeans against which the needle beards are pressed. .when so deiiected consisting of members which when in work ing position ar'erlixed and a bed for said members having seats therefor, said seats individually acting 'to hold their corresponling members upright independently of the adjacent members and from which seats the members .are individually removable, substantially as described.

2. ln a spring beard needle lmitting ma-l chine, a needle beard pressing means comprising a support, independently removablepressing units held stationary on said support when in working position, and having pressing faces arranged at an inclination and convergent downwardly to the normal plane of the needles, said pressing units being grooved on their said convergent pressing faces and means for dellecting the needles against said hired units, substantially as described.

3. In combination in a spring needle knitu ting machine, needles and beard pressing means comprising independent bits or pieces, each of said bits being stationary in action but independently 'removable andzeach hav ing a pressing surface arranged at an inclination to the normal working plane of the needles to maintain control of the beard from the beginning of the pressing action substantially throughout the retracting movement of the needle and a support for the said pieces or bits and means acting upon the backs of the needles to deect them out wardly, substantially as described.

4. ln combination in a spring beard needle knitting machine, a slotted ring outside the needle row having guides for web holders, consisting of individually removable elefor the needle said elements being seated in the slotted ring, a needle cylinder or web ring having slots for the guidance of the' web holders and web holders extending from between the presser elements on the said ring into said slots, whereby the ring will be held against circumferential movement relative to the needle cylinder or web ring, substantially as described.

5. ln combination `in a beards,

spring beard needle knitting machine, needles, web holders, a i

supporting member and presser units held outside the needle row by said supporting member immovably and against lateral dis placement said presser units being inde pendently removable, and presser means in- `Athe web holders tting removably in the slotsy ably by frietional contact with the walls of I .said slots, substantially as described..

7. ln combination in a spring beard needle knitting machine, spring beardneedles, a supporting member and pronged presser units individually seated and held imniovably on said supporting member by the grip `of their prongs, said prongs fitting the supporting member removably while the latter maintains its position, scribed.

8. ln combination spring beard needles, a supporting member slotted vertically and presser units having prongs to fit said-ver tical slots, said presser units being individually removable, substantially as described.

9. ln combination spring beard needles, a supporting member, aI series of presser units, each formed with an inner and an outer prong, said supporting member being slotted to receive one oflsaid prongs, as described.

10. ln combination spring beard needles,

a supporting member, presser lunits having inner and outer prongs, said presser units resting with their prongs asti-ide the supporting member and the inner prongs having pressing surfaces for the needle beards, substantially as described.

1l. ln combination spring beard needles, web holders, a bed therefor having a machined or turned upper surface for guiding the web holders and inserted bits or pieces supported by said web holder bed at said machined surface and extending upwardly therefrom between the web holders and'furnishing lateral guidance therefor, while the machined surface serves as guiding means for the bottom edges of the web holders, sub-l stantially' as described.

l2. ln combinationfspring beard needles, web holders, a bed therefor having a machined or turned upper.. surface for guiding supported by said web holder bed at said machined surface and extending upwardly therefrom between the web holders and furnishing1 lateral guidance therefor, while the machined surface serves as guiding means for the bottom edges of the web holders, said bits or pieces being individually removable, substantially' as described.

13. ln combination spring beard needles, instruments working in the spaces between the needles, a bed having a curved machined top on `which said instruments move, and inserted pieces in said bed at said machined surface extending up therefrom between the and inserted bits or pieces' substantially as de.y

substantially ical tra

l them, and closely located thereto to hold the web holders down to their Work, ca m means for operatlng the suikers, said sinkers extending between and being guided by the said bits or pieces, substantially as described.

15. .In combination spring beard-needles, Y web holders, a bed having a machined upper surface for guiding the web holders, bits or pieces held stationary by but removable from the bed and extending between the Web holders to guide them, sinkers inter- A locking with the web holders for operating needle beards,

them, cam means for operating the sinkers, said sinkers extending between and being guided by the said or pieces providing presser surfaces for the and means for delecting the needles for pressing, substantially as described.

16. In combination spring beard needles, web holders, a web holder bed, bits or pieces held by said bed removably and extending up therefrom to furnish guidance for the web holders, sinkers also guided by said bits or pieces, said bits or pieces furnishing presser surfaces for the needle beards, substantially as described. 17. .Incombination spring web. holders, a Web holder bed, bits or pieces bits or pieces, said bitsl beard needles,

testate held by said bed removably and extending up therefrom to furnish guidance for the web holders, sinkers also guided by said bits or-pieces, said bits or pieces furnishing presser surfaces for the needle beards, and a cap piece above the sinkers slotted on the underside for guiding the saine, substantially as described.

18. In combination spring beard needles, a web holder bed, web holders, presser bits held removably by the web holder bed to press the needle beards, said presser bits serving to guide the web holders, sinlrers pivvotally mounted, said web holder bed having an extension to furnish a bed for the sinkers and having pivot bearings therefor, substantiallvf as described.

19. In f combination in a,y knitting machine, avneedle carrier, needles, a bed, web holders, and pieces removably mounted on the bed for guiding the web holders, each of said pieces having a pair of prongs with a space between and frictionally and removably engaging seats on the bed, substantially as described.

20. In combination, web holders, a bed having a surface upon which the web holders move and removable walls for guiding the web holders, said bed being slotted and the said removable walls being of inverted U-shape with their prongs embracing the bed, substantially as described.

In combination, web holders, a bed therefor, slotted across its top and along its vertical side, and removable walls seated in said slots, the web holders being removable independently of the said walls, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I aiix my signature.

FRANK WiLooMB. 

